AT PRESS CONFERENCE, UPTsMP ARGUES THAT PROPERTY OF CRIMEAN DIOCESES WAS NOT TRANSFERRED TO RPTs
On 11 March in Kiev, the UPTsMP held a press conference regarding the fate of UPTsMP dioceses in Crimea. In connection with an item broadcast on 8 March on television channel 1+1, the uproar concerning the reregistration of the Crimean dioceses of UPTsMP and their possible subordination to the RPTs has taken on ever more turns. Therefore the UPTsMP decided to present its view of the events, RISU correspondent Irina Rydnich reports.
The participants in the press conference included the head of the synod's Information Department of UPTsMP, Bishop Kliment; the head of the legal department of UPTsMP, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov; and the deputy head of the Department of External Church Relations of UPTsMP, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich.
The head of the synod's Information Department, Bishop Kliment, noted that the above mentioned broadcast upset and offended many believers. He said that it gave very biased information regarding the Crimean dioceses of UPTsMP and serious accusations were made against the primate of UPTsMP and generally against UPTsMP as the largest religious community in Ukraine.
"The issue dealt with three Crimean dioceses that are in canonical subordination to UPTsMP and specifically their legal maintenance and legal registration in the circumstances that now have emerged on the peninsula of Crimea. In particular, the broadcast displayed some document of undetermined origin on which there were no signs of registration and no signature. It was stated that this was the charter by which the Crimean dioceses are governed," the bishop added.
"In connection with the falsehood and with the fact that the broadcast did not have any information nor facts that corresponded to reality, the UPTsMP declares that the Holy Synod of UPTsMP never adopted any such documents or charter provisions that would change the canonical subordination of the dioceses located on the territory of the peninsula of Crimea," he declared.
It was noted that the Simferopol, Feodosia, and Dzhankoi dioceses have the same status as the other dioceses located in the mainland part of Ukraine. These dioceses are fully subordinate to the UPTsMP led by Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine Onufrey.
With respect to reports regarding the registered new charters, according to which the legal subordination of the Crimean dioceses was changed, Bishop Kliment declared that he does not know the origin of such documents or texts. "I am not able to call these texts documents, because they did not have any registration signs and they were not signed by anybody," he emphasized.
"Here before me are the charters that are registered and confirmed by the primate of UPTsMP, which were adopted by the synod of UPTsMP, specifically the charter of the Simferopol and Feodosia dioceses," Bishop Kliment indicated. He said that in these charters there are clear provisions testifying that the Simferopol and Feodosia dioceses are canonically subordinate to UPTsMP, whose administrative center is the Kiev metropolia.
The bishop emphasized the fact that not only religious organizations but also legal entities [persons at law] were forced to reregister their founding documentation. This is a problem for all religious organizations located on the peninsula of Crimea. They are supposed to undergo reregistration in order to have the possibility to conduct activity in the future and to care for thousands of believers located on the peninsula.
"Because of this, the UPTsMP adopted a new version of the charter of Crimean dioceses in which there was not changed in any form the canonical subordination of the Crimean dioceses of the Kiev metropolia. On the contrary, several religious organizations—the Roman Catholic Church, many protestant organizations, representatives of Muslim organization—have changed not only their legal address but also their religious center," he directed attention.
It was said that there is evidence from public sources that the head of the Crimea diocese of UPTsKP said that it will change the registration documents in accordance with the requirements that exist today on the peninsula. And that representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church gave an interview and explained that they will legalize their activity on the territory of Crimea by means of registration of new documents in accordance with legislation of the Russian federation.
"It is known that a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church serving parishes on the territory of Crimea stated that the Vatican conducted conversations with the Russian federation regarding the existence of its parishes in Crimea. The result of these conversations was that an agreement was reached according to which all Roman Catholic parishes on the territory of Crimea will be subordinate to the Vatican," Bishop Kliment added. He also noted that in connection with these circumstances today the UPTsMP on the territory of the peninsula of Crimea remains just about the only example of administrative subordination to the mainland part of Ukraine.
The head of the legal department of UPTsMP, Archpriest Alexander Bakhov, noted that the legal department of UPTsMP has analyzed the text that was used as the basis for the broadcast on channel 1+1. Specifically, he commented on points relative to the subordination of dioceses, the leadership of dioceses, and the disposition of property.
He analyzed the text published by journalists and the charter adopted by the Holy Synod of UPTsMP. Here are several points which were commented upon:
Point 3 of the charter published by journalists:
"The diocese conducts its activity under the jurisdiction of RPTs in accordance with the charter of RPTs."
Point 3 in charter adopted by the Holy Synod on 19 June 2014:
"The diocese conducts its activity in accordance with the provisions concerning administration of UPTsMP and resolutions of the local council, the Bishops' Council, the Holy Synod of UPTsMP, and orders of the metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine."
Point 17 of the charter published by journalists:
"The charter of the diocese and changes and additions are approved by the patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus."
Point 17 in charter adopted by the Holy Synod on 19 June 2014:
"The charter of the diocese with changes and additions is adopted by the Holy Synod of UPTsMP and confirmed by the metropolitan of Kiev and all-Ukraine."
Point 19 of the charter published by journalists:
"The supreme administrative body of administration of the diocese is the Bishops' Council of RPTs and in the period between sessions of the Bishops' Council, the patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus."
Point 19 in the charter adopted by the Holy Synod on 19 June 2014:
"The supreme administrative body of administration of the diocese are diocesan meetings led by the diocesan bishop and in the period between diocesan meetings the diocese is administered by the diocesan council led by the diocesan bishop, which corresponds to the charter of administration of UPTs."
Point 37 of the charter published by journalists:
Regarding disposition of resources: "The diocese sends money for general church needs in accordance with rules established by the Holy Synod of RPTs."
This is Point 38 in the charter adopted by the Holy Synod on 19 June 2014:
"The diocese makes financial contributions to the budget of UPTsMP in amounts determined by the Holy Synod of UPTsMP."
Archbishop Alexander Bakhov added that the text used in the broadcast on 1+1 carried the date 3 December 2014. But the charter that was adopted by the Holy Synod was confirmed on 19 June 2014.
The deputy head of the Department of External Church Relations of UPTsMP, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, again emphasized that UPTsMP did not surrender its dioceses or its property to RPTs. "In our charters there is no provision for the transfer of property in favor of RPTs. There is no provision for money contributions to Moscow. All rights of the Crimean dioceses are preserved by the UPTsMP and Crimean bishops are elected and appointed by the Holy Synod of UPTsMP," he added.
To journalists' question where a more detailed acquaintance with the confirmation of the charter can be found, representatives of UPTsMP stated that the charter of the dioceses is a legal document and not subject to publication. If more detailed information is needed relative to the contents of the charter, it is necessary to submit an official request.
At the end of the press conference it was emphasized that not one of the Crimean dioceses of UPTsMP has yet been registered, and only the Simferopol diocese has received confirmation that it is registered, but the documents have still not been received. (tr. by PDS, posted 12 March 2015)
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